Background: Management and preservation of the soft palate is dependent on clinical stage and tumor histology.
However, available literature is scarce regarding the palate preservation with the use of laser CO
2
.
Objectives
:
We report the results obtained after management with laser surgery and soft palate preservation in
three patients with salivary gland neoplasms.
Method:
Three patients with minor salivary gland tumors were treated by means of transoral laser microsurgery.
All tumors were assessed using magnetic resonance imaging. All tumors were >3 cm. Soft palate function was
preserved and reconstruction was performed with primary closure. Patients began oral feeding the same day and
were discharged after 24 h.
Conclusions
:
Transoral laser microsurgery is recommended for treatment of soft palate tumors. This treatment can
be considered a better option when compared with other modalities such as radio- or chemoradiotherapy which
require a longer time of treatment, are more expensive and tend to produce significant toxicity

Gómez Pedraza, Antonio

Luna Ortiz, Kuauhyama

Mosqueda Taylor, Adalberto

PubMed

Repositori d'Objectes Digitals per a l'Ensenyament la Recerca i la Cultura

Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal. 2013 May 1;18 (3):e445-8.                                                                                                                                                                                  Soft palate preservatione445Journal section: Oral SurgeryPublication Types: ResearchSoft palate preservation after tumor resection with transoral laser microsurgeryKuauhyama Luna-Ortiz 1,  Antonio Gómez-Pedraza 1, Adalberto Mosqueda-Taylor 21 MD, MD. Departamento de Cirugía de Cabeza y Cuello, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Mexico, D.F., México 2 DDS, MSc. Departamento de Atención a la Salud, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana Xochimilco, México, D.F., MéxicoCorrespondence:Departamento de Atención a la SaludUniversidad Autónoma Metropolitana XochimilcoCalzada del Hueso 1100, Villa Quietud04960 México D.F., Méxicomosqueda@correo.xoc.uam.mxReceived: 08/07/2012Accepted: 25/08/2012AbstractBackground: Management and preservation of the soft palate is dependent on clinical stage and tumor histology. However, available literature is scarce regarding the palate preservation with the use of laser CO2. Objectives: We report the results obtained after management with laser surgery and soft palate preservation in three patients with salivary gland neoplasms.Method: Three patients with minor salivary gland tumors were treated by means of transoral laser microsurgery. All tumors were assessed using magnetic resonance imaging. All tumors were >3 cm. Soft palate function was preserved and reconstruction was performed with primary closure. Patients began oral feeding the same day and were discharged after 24 h.Conclusions: Transoral laser microsurgery is recommended for treatment of soft palate tumors. This treatment can be considered a better option when compared with other modalities such as radio- or chemoradiotherapy which require a longer time of treatment, are more expensive and tend to produce significant toxicity.Key words: Laser CO2, neoplasms, salivary gland.Luna-Ortiz K,  Gómez-Pedraza A, Mosqueda-Taylor A. Soft palate pre-servation after tumor resection with transoral laser microsurgery. Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal. 2013 May 1;18 (3):e445-8.    http://www.medicinaoral.com/medoralfree01/v18i3/medoralv18i3p445.pdfArticle Number: 18634          http://www.medicinaoral.com/© Medicina Oral S. L. C.I.F. B 96689336 - pISSN 1698-4447 - eISSN: 1698-6946eMail:  medicina@medicinaoral.com Indexed in: Science Citation Index ExpandedJournal Citation ReportsIndex Medicus, MEDLINE, PubMedScopus, Embase and Emcare Indice Médico Españoldoi:10.4317/medoral.18634http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.4317/medoral.18634IntroductionPrimary tumors of the soft palate are rare. They present up to 10 times less often than laryngeal carcinomas and up to five times less often than tonsillar neoplasias. (1,2) Management and possibility of conservation of the soft palate depends on clinical stage and tumor histology. (3) In this regard, there are several case reports in which reconstruction is carried out with free flaps for bulky tumors that extensively involve this region. In contrast, the attempt at conservation by marginal surgery with the use of new technologies such as transoral laser microsurgery and/or robotic surgery has not been prop-erly explored. (4) The aim of this study is to report the results obtained after management with laser surgery and soft palate preservation in three patients with sali-vary gland neoplasms.Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal. 2013 May 1;18 (3):e445-8.                                                                                                                                                                                  Soft palate preservatione446Patient and MethodsWe present a series of three cases of minor salivary gland tumors located in the mucosa of the soft palate. In all cases, the diameter was assessed by magnetic reso-nance imaging studies (MRI), with all tumors being >3 cm (Table 1). All patients underwent transoral micro-surgery with CO2 laser under general anesthesia with oral intubation. It was possible in all cases to preserve soft palate function and reconstruction was performed with primary closure. Patients began oral feeding on the same day and their hospital stay was only 24 h.Case Age(years) Gender Diagnosis Size (mm) Evolution 1 26 Female Cystic adenoid carcinoma 31 x 22 x 21 Adjuvant RT 2 73 Female Malignant myoepithelioma 33 x 32 x 32 Alive and disease-free at 14 months 3 29  Male Pleomorphic adenoma 43 x 35 x 32 Alive and disease-free at 18 months Table 1. Clinicopathological characteristics of patients treated with transoral laser CO2 microsurgery.Case 1A 26-year-old female was referred to our institution after a biopsy of the soft palate with a diagnosis of ad-enoid cystic carcinoma. The patient’s condition began 6 years prior with the appearance of a soft palate le-sion. For 2 years the patient experienced bleeding and odynophagia, which prompted the present consulta-tion. Upon initial physical examination a nasofibro-laryngoscopy was performed. No data of involvement of the nasal portion of the soft palate was noted, but an exophytic lesion occupying the entire length of the soft palate without clinical extension to the tonsillar pil-lars or hard palate was found. The neck was clinically negative. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was per-formed and showed the presence of a tumoral growth that measured 31 x 22 x 21 mm and partially obliterated (~30%) the width of the oronasopharynx contiguously with the dome of the tongue (Fig. 1).  We performed ex-cision of the lesion with CO2 laser with grossly negative margins and primary closure (Fig. 1). Macroscopical examination of the tumor showed a lesion measuring 2.5 x 2 x 1.8 cm. Histopathological report was adenoid cystic carcinoma G2 with surgical borders free of tumor and presence of thermal damage. One month after the procedure, the patient has adequate function of the pal-ate and barely perceptible nasal voice. She was treated with adjuvant radiotherapy due to histology and tumor grade. After one year she is disease free. Case 2A 73-year-old female was referred due to a 3 year-dura-tion soft palate lesion. The patient began experiencing pain 15 days prior to her first consultation at our insti-tution. On admission, physical examination disclosed a soft palate tumor measuring 4 x 3 cm. The lesion was ulcerated in the center with raised borders and areas of erythema, which extended up to the left tonsillar pillar. On nasofibrolaryngoscopy it was observad that the le-sion was displacing the soft palate. MRI was performed, demonstrating an expansive tumoral lesion located in the posterior and inferior border of the soft palate with well-defined edges of ~33 x 30 x 30 mm. The lesion completely obliterated the lumen of the naso-orophar-ynx (Fig. 2). Surgery was performed with CO2 laser for Fig. 1. A) Sagittal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showing dependent lesions of the soft palate shaping the dome of the tongue at the base. B) Photograph of the lesion showing ulceration. C) Surgical bed after resection with CO2 laser. D) Primary closure of the palate defect.preservation and primary closure of the soft palate (Fig. 2). Final histopathology report was minimally invasive malignant myoepithelioma (<1.5 mm), which probably originated as pleomorphic adenoma with lymphatic and vascular permeation and necrosis. Tumor size was 3.8 x 3 x 2.8 cm and surgical margins were free of neoplasm. At 14-months of follow-up, the patient demonstrates no clinical evidence of tumor activity and no functional impairment.Case 3A 29-year-old male with no relevant medical history was referred due to the presence of a tumor located in RT, radiotherapy.Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal. 2013 May 1;18 (3):e445-8.                                                                                                                                                                                  Soft palate preservatione447the soft palate which produced sensation of a foreign body and has been present for 1 year. Physical exami-nation showed an ulcerated 3-cm diameter tumor. MRI revealed a predominantly solid lesion with some linear punctate hyperintense areas located in the soft palate and anterior pillar of the oropharynx in the right paras-agittal margin, which measured 40 x 39 mm and caused a decrease in the amplitude of the oropharynx (Fig. 3). Under general anesthesia, surgical excision of the le-sion with transoral laser surgery and primary closure for preservation of the soft palate was performed. The pathology report informed a diagnosis of pleomorphic adenoma. The surgical specimen measured 4.3 x 3.5 x 3.2 cm with neoplasm in close proximity to the surgical margins, and for this reason surveillance of the patient was decided upon. At 18 months postoperatively, the patient demonstrated no evidence of tumor activity, and function of the soft palate is preserved. DiscussionThe soft palate is one of the subsites of the oropharynx with a greater degree of specialization. Its physiological importance lies in the movement that it is able to per-form. It also serves as an anatomic barrier, which allows the individual to perform functions such as swallowing, speech and breathing because it prevents the passage of air or food into the nasal cavity. This dynamic anatomic physiology is altered when tumors involve this impor-tant structure of the oropharynx, such as carcinomas originating from the oral and sinus mucosa and tumors of minor salivary glands that may develop as occupying masses altering the normal activity of this structure.Primary tumors of the soft palate and uvula are rare com-pared to other oral tumors. Their treatment is commonly considered in conjunction with tumors in the orophar-ynx, without a distinction in the subsite where they are located. (5-8) Surgery for these types of lesions poses a major challenge due to the marked dysfunction that may result from ablation of the soft palate, with consequences such as rhinolalia and nasal reflux. This contrast with the effectiveness of radiotherapy as initial treatment in some early-stage malignancies and the addition of chemothera-py in more advanced-stage malignancies. In recent years the availability of new technologies has modified this approach as reported recently by Grant et al. (9) who used laser resection in the treatment of tumors of the oropharynx with encouraging results. Adjuvant therapy according to pathological findings is not modified. Instead, improved staging of the primary tumor with surgical exposure is achieved and, conse-quently, provides a better clinical evaluation, resulting in shorter treatment duration with less morbidity and excellent functional outcomes compared with chemo- or radiation therapy-based management.Although transoral microsurgery has not been frequent-ly used for these types of lesions, studies dating back to the 1990 s´  report that its use was already implemented. It is unclear whether such cases were aimed at soft pal-ate and/or uvula preservation as a measure for conser-vation of function and, consequently, a better quality life. (10) In the study by Parsons et al. (5) the authors concluded that surgery (with or without adjuvant radio-therapy) has a higher morbidity than radiotherapy alone compared as primary treatment, which has now been challenged by the low morbidity produced when using laser resection. (6) Thomas et al. (11) demonstrated that there is voice dysfunction in >70% of patients with tu-mors of the oropharynx, which appears to be related to radiotherapy treatment, the presence of free flaps and tumor stage. Surgical treatment has routinely been de-signed to include wide margins, which usually involves ablation of the soft palate. Therefore, the most optimal method for reconstruction in recent decades has been anatomic placement of a barrier such as microvascular Fig. 2. A) Sagittal MRI showing lesion in the soft palate without compromise of the nasal cavity. B) Axial MRI with lesion found to the left of the midline, dependent on the soft palate. C) Photo after resection showing the defect in the soft palate. D) Photograph showing primary closure in the immediate postoperative period.Fig. 3. A) Sagittal MRI showing lesion in the soft palate and there is total obstruction of the naso-oropharynx. B) Axial MRI with le-sion found to the right of the midline dependent on the soft palate.Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal. 2013 May 1;18 (3):e445-8.                                                                                                                                                                                  Soft palate preservatione448free flaps often from the anterolateral thigh region. (12) This reduces the problem only from the anatomic point of view as a barrier, but rehabilitative function related to movement of the soft palate has not been previously possible, continuing with one or more of the prominent consequences related to lack of the soft palate.According to the results found in this study, there are several reasons for proposing treatment with transoral microsurgery as a better option over conventional thera-pies. First, all neoplasms in our cases were of minor sali-vary gland origin, in which surgery remains as the best management. Second, the short duration of the procedure is performed without affecting swallowing and allows discharge of the patient in the first 24 hours, which does not occur with radiation therapy, as this treatment is long-er and do not necessarily produce a favorable response in tumor size and usually produce higher economical costs for the patient. Although controversy exists as to the as-sessment of margins in laser microsurgery, we agree that the principle of this treatment is precisely to provide bet-ter intraoperative clinical assessment where the margins are decided upon by the surgeon using the microscope, which translates into greater security for providing an adequate surgical margin.Conclusions Transoral laser microsurgery and, in the near future ro-botic surgery, will play a greater role in the treatment of soft palate tumors and, in general, for tumors of the oropharynx due to the adequate exposure achieved with these methods. This allows improved clinical assess-ment of lesions, especially in these locations that, until recently, were difficult to access with conventional open surgery or required approaches that resulted in high morbidity. Based on the aforementioned, this treatment should be considered a better choice as compared with techniques such as radio- or chemoradiotherapy that require a longer time of treatment, are more expensive and tend to produce significant toxicity.References1. Esche BA, Haie CM, Gerbaulet AP, Eschwege F, Richard JM, Chas-sagne D. Interstitial and external radiotherapy in carcinoma of the soft palate and uvula. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 1988;15:619-25. 2. Jamerson RE, White JA. Carcinoma of the soft palate and uvula. J La State Med Soc. 1991;143:7-9.3. Pogrel MA. The management of salivary gland tumors of the pala-te. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 1994;52:454-9. 4. Jansisyanont P, Blanchaert RH, Ord RA. Intraoral minor salivary gland neoplasm: a single institution experience of 80 cases. Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2002;31:257-61.5. Parsons JT, Mendenhall WM, Stringer SP, Amdur RJ, Hinerman RW, Villaret DB, et al. Squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx: surgery, radiation therapy, or both. Cancer. 2002;94:2967-80.6. Moncrieff M, Sandilla J, Clark J, Clifford A, Shannon K, Gao K, et al. Outcomes of primary surgical treatment of T1 and T2 carcinomas of the oropharynx. Laryngoscope. 2009;119:307-11.7. Walvekar RR, Li RJ, Gooding WE, Gibson MK, Heron D, Johnson JT, et al. Role of surgery in limited (T1-2, N0-1) in cancers of the oropharynx. Laryngoscope. 2008;118:2129-34.8. Moore EJ, Henstrom DK, Olsen KD, Kasperbauer JL, McGree ME. Transoral resection of tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma. Laryngoscope. 2009;119:508-15.9. Grant DG, Hinni ML, Salassa JR, Perry WC, Hayden RE, Casler JD. Oropharyngeal cancer: a case for single modality treatment with transoral laser microsurgery. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2009;135:1225-30.10. Sutter R, Grossenbacher R. Resection of palatal tumours with the CO2 laser. J Laryngol Otol. 1990;104:20-3.11. Thomas L, Jones TM, Tandon S, Carding P, Lowe D, Rogers S. Speech and voice outcomes in oropharyngeal cancer and evaluation of the University of Washington Quality of Life speech domain. Clin Otolaryngol. 2009;34:34-42.12. Ozkan O, Ozkan O, Coskunfirat OK, Hadimioğlu N. Reconstruc-tion of large palatal defects using the free anterolateral thigh flap. Ann Plast Surg. 2011;66:618-22.Funding: NoneCompeting interests: None declaredEthical approval: Not required

Soft palate preservation after tumor resection with transoral laser microsurgery

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